Blindness

***

By Anonymous

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

What’s it all about? This thriller stars Mark Ruffalo as an optician who treats a man that has turned blind for no clear reason. Soon, people all over the world are losing their sight – including the optician. When he is taken to a disused hospital with many other casualties, his wife (Moore) feigns blindness in order to help him and the others – who have been imprisoned in inhumane circumstances.What’s good? The chilling concept grabs hold of your imagination from the start. It is frighteningly easy to believe that panicked authorities might lock up people who caught the virus, and you are with Julianne’s character every step of the way as she tries to help the blind survive. It’s interesting to see Gael García Bernal in a different role, as well – his nasty character is anything but a heart-throb.

The optician's wife (Moore) risks her life to help others

What’s bad? This has a dark view of human nature: the blind people turn on each other. In contrast, the film’s ending feels sentimental.OK! verdict: There’s lots of atmosphere in this eerie thriller, but it’s not cheery viewing.***